REVIEW: Dell Venue 8 Pro

The tablet market is
stronger than ever, with a 68% increase in tablet and hybrid device sales over
the 2013 period.

Although Apple still remains in the top spot, there are plenty of alternatives
to the ever popular iPad, including the Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet.

This 8 inch tablet, running Windows 8.1, comes with a full Microsoft Office
suite of applications and is an easy to use platform upon which to experience
windows 8.

In this video, we give
an overview of the device and its specs:

The size of the tablet is small enough that it comfortably fits in one hand,
with an appealing rubber-like texture on the back which makes it easy to grip.
It also is very light at just under 400g, as well as its small size making it
easily portable for working on-the-go such as on the tube or at home.

The usual Windows
button, which would normally be located on the front of a Windows tablet, is a physical button at the side of the device, which impeded use a
little, and I found it easier to use the swipe-menu feature to navigate
instead.

We had particular
trouble using the on-screen keyboard, but there are a number of different
accessories available to make this tablet easier to use when out and about,
including a wireless keyboard, stylus and a tablet cover that doubles up as a
stand, but it will cost you extra.

The display, which is HD 800p, is vibrantly
coloured and good for watching videos or looking at documents and
presentations, and with the full Office suite available all of your work is at
your fingertips.

Although the battery life lasts all day
when in use, it seemed to run down just as quickly when on standby, and I would
have expected it to last longer.

The processor is quite powerful considering the tablet's size, with an Intel Atom Z3740D Processor, so the apps load quickly. The dual-band
Wi-Fi also ensures that web pages load quickly, although it can only be used
where there are Wi-Fi hotspots or a reliable connection as the device has no
SIM capabilities.

The tablet also features wireless display technology,
allowing videos, photos or presentations to be streamed from your tablet to the
nearest compatible TV using a Miracast secure direct connection.

As far as small affordable tablets go, this
is definitely one of the best for getting work done on a commute. The review
unit was supplied to us by Ebuyer, where you can currently buy the Dell Venue
Tablet Pro for £239.99.